Residence Life
Housing on campus is provided in two distinct housing environments. Campus Village, a complex of seven two-story apartment-style buildings, provides housing for upper division status students. Each apartment houses four students and consists of four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a full kitchen. Laundry facilities are available on each floor. Canavan Hall is a five-story suite-style residence hall for first-year students. Two bedrooms share a bathroom; lounges and laundry facilities are on each floor. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on weekdays in the Wick Student Center; brunch and dinner are served on Saturdays and Sundays. A trained Residence Life staff member is available to assist students with their social, academic, and personal needs, in the belief that a student's place of residence is an integral part of the total educational experience. Resident students work with staff to plan and conduct programs and activities designed to enhance cooperation and develop a sense of community in the residence halls. Adequate parking is available for resident students who need to park their automobiles on campus. All vehicles must be registered with the College and parking permits (no fee) are required. Residence halls are open only while classes are in session. If housing is needed during breaks and holidays, students must contact the Office of Residence Life in writing, one week prior to a hall closing, to be permitted extended residency. Students are not permitted to reside on campus between summer and regular academic year sessions.
Daemen College Housing Residency Requirement
All full-time freshmen entering Daemen College whose permanent residency is beyond a 30-mile radius of Daemen College are expected to reside on campus for four consecutive semesters or junior status, whichever comes first. Exceptions include married students living with spouse, single parents, and students residing with relatives (i.e. aunts, uncles, and grandparents). Documentation will be needed in order to be exempt under any of these circumstances. Students who are requesting to be exempt must submit their request in writing as soon as possible. All written requests should be sent to the Residence Life Office, Daemen College, 4380 Main Street, Amherst, NY 14226. Resident students are required to maintain a full course load, defined as 12 credits per semester, to remain eligible for on-campus housing.
Commuter Life
Over half of the student body commutes to campus. During the day and after classes, many commuters study in the library or socialize in the Wick Student Center. Commuter students are encouraged to become involved in student organizations and to participate in student activities. Information about campus life and student events is provided through the Daemen website “What's Happening” page and the “Searchable Events” calendar. Commuter students may bring a bag lunch or purchase a la carte meals at the Cyber Cafe. More substantial, all-you-can-eat meals may be purchased in the dining hall for cash or with “Daemen Bucks. ” Private lockers for commuter students are available. Parking permits are required.
Commuter Life
Over half of the student body commutes to campus. During the day and after classes, many commuters study in the library or socialize in the Wick Student Center. Commuter students are encouraged to become involved in student organizations and to participate in student activities. Information about campus life and student events is provided through the Daemen website “What's Happening” page and the “Searchable Events” calendar. Commuter students may bring a bag lunch or purchase a la carte meals at the Cyber Cafe. More substantial, all-you-can-eat meals may be purchased in the dining hall for cash or with “Daemen Bucks. ” Private lockers for commuter students are available. Parking permits are required.
Wick Student Center
Full service meals are served in the main dining hall, and an a la carte selection is open to all in the Cyber Cafe. The recreation room and Cyber Cafe are popular spots for socializing and relaxing during the day or evening. The recreation room has pool tables, ping pong, foosball, and other games. The Cyber Cafe has a large screen TV, DJ booth, and a dance floor. The Wick Center also houses a multi-purpose social room, an information desk, several lounges and meeting rooms, the Student Association office, and several administrative staff offices.
Student Activities
Student activities provide for the development of the whole person outside the classroom. The Student Activities Director helps students form recognized organizations and plan events. All students in good academic standing are encouraged to join in extracurricular activities including the Student Association, the Resident Council, Commuter Council, fraternities, sororities, honors organizations, special interest groups, academic clubs, publications, and athletics. With appropriate approvals and necessary advisor involvement, college vans are available for student organizations to use for area off-campus events. The vans are booked through the Switchboard Operator, whose office is located in the Wick Center. The Student Activities Director also works with the Conference Director to schedule and coordinate special events.
Student Association
All students are members of the Student Association. The controlling body, or Senate, is composed of officers and representatives who are elected each year. A Programming Board works with the Student Activities Director and others to plan a well-rounded program of extracurricular activities. Students also serve on many institutional committees, including various Trustee Committees, the Educational Policy Committee, and the Student Life Committee.
Publications
Students interested in writing, photography, and graphic design produce various campus publications. Among these are Ascent, the college newspaper; Summit, the college yearbook; and Step, the literary magazine.
Athletics and Intramurals
The College has varsity intercollegiate teams for men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, and soccer. Varsity intercollegiate volleyball is available for women. The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats compete in the American Mid-East Conference and are affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Athletic scholarship money is available to qualified student-athletes. Intramurals at Daemen currently include touch football, basketball, volleyball, softball, and soccer. Well-equipped weight and exercise rooms and saunas add to the variety of fitness and health activities available. Other activities can include cheerleading, one-day tournaments, and other special events.
Area Social Activities and Recreation
Social gatherings and dances, plays, movies, concerts, lectures, recitals, and art exhibits are scheduled on campus throughout the year. Eleven colleges and universities in the area provide constant opportunities for social and cultural enrichment. The Buffalo area is well known for its architectural and historical heritage; its cultural vitality in the form of art galleries, history and science museums, a zoo and a botanical garden, theaters, jazz clubs, music groups, and a fine philharmonic orchestra; and its professional football, hockey, and baseball teams. Scores of good restaurants cater to down-home American, ethnic, gourmet, health food, and nouvelle cuisine (as well as fast-food) tastes in dining. There are theme parks at Darien Lake and Niagara Falls. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario beaches provide swimming and boating. Cross-country ski trails are everywhere in suburban Buffalo, and downhill ski slopes are an hour's drive away. The Genesee River Gorge, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier woods and waterways offer nearby outdoor recreation all year. The Artpark , Chautauqua, and Niagara-on-the-Lake festivals and special events enrich Western New York's cultural and intellectual life. The city's metropolitan area bus system serves the campus, and the Buffalo subway runs from downtown to a point on Main Street a mile away from Daemen.
Academic Advisement
All students are assigned advisors, full time faculty in the department of each student's declared major, who are available during registration periods and throughout the academic year to assist students interested in majors within specific academic divisions. Students who have not yet declared a major are advised by professional staff advisors. The Executive Director of Academic Support Services, academic advisors, and faculty advisors are available to help students make appropriate decisions related to scheduling, course sequencing, degree requirements, changing majors, and other college regulations.
The Executive Director of Academic Support Services works closely with students and offers guidance on academic, personal, and social matters. The Executive Director monitors students' academic progress, assists them with their adjustment to the College, maintains close contact with the faculty, and provides special counseling to students on academic probation.
Instructional Technology Services
The Instructional Technology Services Department provides the College community with instructional equipment such as computers and video projectors, document cameras, digital video cameras, sound reinforcement and many other equipment types. Students and organizations may also request the use of equipment through email at: its@daemen.edu or by phone: 839-8240. Student identification cards are also made in Instructional Technology Services.
Bookstore
The Daemen College Bookstore (Follett #134), located on the ground floor of Duns Scotus Hall, carries all required and optional text-books (new and used), as well as study and exam guides. The Bookstore also carries school supplies, trade books, greeting cards, art supplies, Daemen College clothing and gifts. Research and supplementary texts can be special ordered. Change and stamps are available at the checkout. The bookstore accepts cash, personal check with proper ID, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express. We also make arrangements with the office of Student Accounts to set up “book credit” accounts for students who wish to use their financial aid for the purchase of textbooks and supplies. Visit the bookstore on the Internet at “www.daemen.bkstr.com” or from the Daemen home page under “Student Services.” Computer software may be purchased at educational prices through the Software Shop on the bookstore website. The bookstore buys used textbooks year round. Bookstore hours during the fall and spring semesters are:
Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday As needed
Summer hours are:
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Additional hours are scheduled at the beginning of each term. (Hours are subject to change.)
Business Office
The Business Office bills and collects fees from students in cooperation with the Financial Aid Office. The Office of Student Accounts keeps track of individual student balances.
Career Development Center
The Career Development Center provides a wide variety of services specially geared to the vocational and self-development needs of the Daemen College community. The staff is available to assist students and alumni in evaluating their interests and needs as part of the process of selecting their careers.
Assistance is provided with honing job-search skills, individual counseling, career interest inventories, and connecting with professionals through the Alumni Career Partners Program. Extensive resources are available on-site and on-line for reviewing current job openings, employer information, graduate programs, and scholarships for all students and alumni. Throughout the year, arrangements are made for representatives of business, government, industry, and service agencies to meet with students on campus and at a variety of events. Job Fairs and other events designed to assist students and alumni develop and obtain their career goals are ongoing. Information can be found on the department website: www.daemen.edu/career.
Class of 2006 Employment Statistics
TOTAL NUMBER OF GRADUATES 697
TOTAL RESPONSES (31%) 219
RESULTS:
Employed Full-time (67%) 147
Employed Part-time (26%) 57
Further Education (25%) 55
Computing Services
Computing is an integral part of a Daemen education. All faculty and students have email accounts, space to post web pages, protected network storage and high-speed network access available from their offices and residence hall rooms. Many courses mix web resources, on-line discussion groups and other electronic resources with traditional lectures and in-class discussions for a rich and varied learning environment.
While there is no requirement for students to buy computing equipment, over 90% of our students have their own computers. Those who choose to use equipment in one of the public computing labs have access to a wide variety of resources available free of charge. Located in Canavan Hall and the business and commerce building, these labs contain Dell computers configured with high-speed Internet access and productivity software. Software is updated regularly, and hardware is replaced every three years. During the fall and spring semesters, these labs are open 87 hours each week. Additional computer equipment is available in departmental labs in graphic design, natural sciences, mathematics and psychology for students taking classes in those disciplines.
Academic Computing Services provides support for instructional, research and communication needs of the college community. An Ethernet network provides 10 or 100-megabit service directly to all offices, classrooms, labs, and residence halls to give students, faculty and staff access to local network services such as file servers, the web and email. External access to the internet is provided via a full duplex 20 MB link. Students living on-campus can access this high-speed network free of charge. Faculty and students living off-campus can access our network resources over broadband services or using a dial-in account.
Academic Computing Services supports a standard suite of software for email, web browsing, word processing, web development, virus protection and other standard needs. Daemen College has entered into licensing agreements with Adobe, Microsoft, SPSS, Symantec and others to provide our students, faculty, and staff with access to the most widely used productivity software.
Faculty may use dedicated computer classrooms for hands-on computer instruction, or use cart-based wireless laptops to turn any conventional classroom into a computer lab. Projection equipment also facilitates computer aided instruction and demonstrations. In addition, faculty may make computer resources available outside of the classroom on the web via Blackboard, a course management program.
Marian Library offers on-line bibliographic searching. College administrative functions are computerized and integrated by means of an Information Resources Management system.
Cooperative Education
The Cooperative Education program provides students with the opportunity to gain professionally-related experience in their area of career interest. Students may earn up to 12 hours of academic credit for co-ops/internships during their college career. Employers include business, industry, government, health-related facilities, educational institutions, and cultural organizations, as well as opportunities with the Washington Internship Institute. Successful completion of CFE 97, Co-op Prep Seminar or CFE 101 Career Exploration & Development is required before the Co-op Field Experience will be approved. More information can be found at www.daemen.edu/career.
Counseling Services
The College provides counseling and mental health services. Up to fifteen sessions are offered to each student per academic year at no cost to the student, regardless of private insurance coverage. Professional counselors, with offices near the campus and also available for regularly scheduled hours on-campus, are retained by the College to assist with personal, emotional, and social concerns. Crisis situations will be referred to professional clinician, a community service agency, or an area hospital.
From time to time, Counseling Services will offer workshops designed to meet current needs of students.
Enrichment Studies
The College offers academic developmental services in a variety of forms. Enrichment courses and/or academic coaching in reading, writing and mathematics are offered so that students can develop the literacy and numeracy skills required by the academic community.
A Reading and Writing Lab located in The Learning Center has a variety of materials available for students to practice specific reading and writing skills. Academic counseling and workshops in study skills, time management and test taking are available.
Health and Insurance Services
Upon acceptance to the College, a new student is required to have a physical examination and furnish evidence of a tuberculin test having been conducted within the past year. In accordance with New York State law, all students born on or after January 1, 1957, are required to prove immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella. These students must provide adequate evidence of immunity in order to ensure their class registration. Other vaccinations are recommended, as detailed on the Student Health Form.
In addition, NYS legislation requires all students, regardless of age, to make an informed decision about whether to receive the meningitis vaccine. Information about the disease and vaccine is on the Student Health Form. College students, particularly freshmen living on campus, are urged to consider vaccination. Further information about the risks of contracting meningitis is available on the following websites: www.health.state.ny.us, www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo, http://www.nmaus.org.
The Health and Insurance Services Office offers confidential assistance in referring students to area health care providers in the event of illness or accident, procuring necessary health evaluations prior to clinical affiliations, and obtaining required immunizations. The staff also provides assistance to students with health insurance.
Insurance
All full-time students and all international students must be covered by health insurance. The College offers a plan that insures for losses resulting from accident or illness, to the extent stated in the brochure, under the provisions of the policy. This coverage is fully explained in the brochure available in the Student Accounts and Health and Insurance Services offices. The brochure can also be viewed on the Koster Insurance Agency, Inc. web page at www.Kosterweb.com.
As a full-time student, or international student, you must either purchase the College plan or complete an on-line waiver form indicating you have other health insurance coverage that can be used in the United States. If the waiver form is not completed by the date designated on the website, you will be enrolled in the Daemen College Student Insurance Plan and the premium will be added to your student account. The fee is non-refundable.
Any student who is not covered by an insurance plan may purchase the Daemen College Student Health Insurance Plan. Coverage for spouses and dependent children is also available. Enrollment in the plan entitles the student to the comprehensive health services available at Family Care Medical Center. The center is located at 61 Maple Road, Williamsville, NY 14221 (716) 565-1234, a short distance from the College. Free round-trip transportation can be provided from campus.
Personal property and liability insurance, while recommended, is the responsibility of each individual student and is not provided by the College.
Library
With a collection of 139,000 print volumes, 20,600 electronic books, 800 print serial subscriptions, and access to more than 16,000 full-text electronic journals, Marian Library supports the curriculum of the college, provides academic enrichment, and makes available recreational reading. The library is fully automated, with free Internet access to local holdings, scholarly research databases, and information located throughout the world. All library research and information services are available from the library homepage: www.daemen.edu/library. For those using laptop computers, the library provides wireless connectivity to the campus computer network.
Other library services include inter-library loan, reserve materials for course assignments (including full-text electronic reserves), coin-operated photocopiers, ten public-access computers, and eight laptop computers for all aspects of library research. Reference librarians offer research guidance and bibliographic instruction to individuals as well as to groups. Distance learning students may search library holdings, use electronic books, search bibliographic and full-text databases, as well as read full-text course reserve materials via the library homepage at www.daemen.edu/library.
The library building is open 96 hours per week during the academic semester, with special schedules for holidays and examinations as needed. Seating is available for 225 patrons; the main level is accessible by wheelchair lift from Duns Scotus Hall. The library is a member of the OCLC bibliographic network and cooperates with other western New York libraries which, combined, house over four million volumes. An " Infopass " card may be issued by a librarian, which enables borrowing privileges for all western New York libraries. No food or beverages in open containers are permitted in the facility.
Ministry on Campus
Campus Ministry seeks to serve the spiritual needs of the entire College community: students, faculty, administrators, staff, and alumni of any faith, of any denomination (or of none at all). Acknowledging that various religious beliefs are present on campus, this ministry has a distinctly ecumenical dimension. Since Campus Ministry takes place in an academic context, it aspires to help members of the College community grow in their own faiths. Campus Ministry offers spiritual guidance, counseling, marriage preparation, Bible Studies, retreats, and social action projects. Roman Catholic mass is offered on campus each Sunday during the academic year. The office also lists churches, synagogues, and other religious facilities in the Buffalo area. Those desiring to worship or seek spiritual guidance in any specific denomination can contact Campus Ministry for referral. A meditation chapel is located on the first floor of Duns Scotus Hall across from the entrance to the library. The chapel is open to everyone from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Registrar
The Registrar's Office provides the following services for students:
• registering students for course work
• processing mid-term and final grades
• providing credit evaluations and monitoring progress towards degree completion
• verifying candidates for graduation/degree conferral/Commencement honors
• processing and verifying changes in student status and general student directory information
• nominating students for the National Dean's List
• certifying veterans' enrollment
• certifying Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) recipients
• certifying athletes for participation in varsity sports teams
• processing transcript requests and providing transcripts
• processing professional licensure applications as appropriate
Academic Coaching Services
The College offers a variety of academic coaching (tutoring) services including individual coaching and group review sessions, including Supplemental Instruction and Peer Led Team Learning. Academic coaching is available to all Daemen College students. Coaches are experienced students who have been recommended by instructors and who complete a training program. At the Learning Center, located in Canavan Hall, coaches are available by appointment for most courses and for assistance in writing, research papers, study techniques, learning styles, and learning strategies. Workshops on study skills, time management and test taking are presented during the semester. Information can be found at www.daemen.edu/learningcenter.
In some cases, instructors require students to use the On-Line Writing Lab (OWL), which provides students the opportunity to submit their writing electronically and receive feedback anytime and anywhere.
Services for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities meet with the Assistant Coordinator of The Learning Center to discuss learning strategies and to arrange services. Requests for accommodations are to be submitted to, and are authorized by, the Associate Dean of the College. See the College's policy on the accommodation of students with disabilities on p.143.
